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3w ago

Texas Education Agency Warns Schools Over Walkouts, Appoints Misconduct Inspector

The move follows immigration enforcement walkouts, linking attendance rules to funding penalties plus educator discipline.

Crockett High School students walk out of school in Austin on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, as part of a nationwide protest against the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hundreds of students participated in the walkout, which was one of many student demonstrations held at other Austin-area schools.
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Crockett High School students participate in a school walkout in Austin on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, as part of a nationwide protest against the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hundreds of students participated in the walkout, which was one of many similar student demonstrations held at other Austin-area schools.

Overview

  • New TEA guidance requires students who leave class for protests to be marked absent, which can reduce districts’ average daily attendance funding.
  • Teachers found to facilitate walkouts face investigation and possible license revocation, and districts could see monitors, conservators or a board of managers installed.
  • The agency said it acted on Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to probe what it called inappropriate political activism, as Attorney General Ken Paxton sought Austin ISD records tied to recent protests.
  • TEA named Levi Fuller as inspector general for educator misconduct to oversee enforcement of educator conduct policies across Texas schools.
  • Student walkouts continued across Central Texas on Thursday, with districts stressing the events were not school-sponsored as local officials raised safety and communication concerns, including a report that a 12-year-old in Hays CISD got lost after leaving campus.